Crunch Time 2

Update on how thesis is going.
Well.  Quite well.
Then I had a colleague that came to the grad student office sick.
Sick people should stay home.
Then I got sick.  For a whole week.
I stayed home.  Still recovering.
Still managed to get some work done in front of my computer.  Productivity down however.
Will persevere.

A few years ago a good friend introduced me to this blog:

Crazy Aunt Purl

She is a hilarious blogger who is living a different sort of life than she had planned.  I read her blog in early January and she had decided not to make any New Year's resolutions.  Instead she was creating monthly goals that she wanted to try to achieve.  Well, some were daily, some weekly, and some monthly.  Purl even made herself a beautiful (and tacky in a fun way) Kindergarten version of a star chart on a piece of large clipboard paper.  Turns out it worked for her and she remembered her goals all month, plus she now has an almost fully decorated chart full of shiny, red, happy stars.

I am in.
I made my list.
I made it twice.
Here it is:

Daily Goals:

1.) 1 hour of exercise

2.) 5 servings of veg & fruit 

(called 5 A Day in the UK; picked this up while traveling)

3.) 3-4 hours of work on thesis

4.) to bed before 11 PM

Weekly Goals:

6.) 1 shopping/grocery trip

7.) 2 healthy dishes made

8.) do 1 large cleaning job

9.) 1 fun night out planned 

One of my awesome sisters (I have a few) made family calendars and every day I write down the number of the goals I achieved in the day's respective calendar box.  

You might wonder about the simplicity of some of these goals.  I am in grad school and basic self cleaning, eating and care takes a back seat to many other projects.  You've been there.  You know what it's like to wonder if you neeeeeed to shower one day, or if you haaaave to buy healthy food this week, because it takes time and that time could be used on one of those projects.  You've been there.  This is to keep me clean, healthy, happier, and keep my energy hustle level up to get my thesis done.  February went well.  Very well.  March has slowed down because I am sick.  Once I am over this, I am back.  Full force.  

If this is your thing, give it a try and let me know how it goes.

Thank you Purl!

Vagabonding

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Research your own experiences for the truth...Absorb what is useful...Add what is specifically your own...The creating individual is more than any style or system." - Bruce Lee, p. xviii

Potts introduces the reader to a travel phenomenon called vagabonding, a fun easy going word that means one is moving about the globe gathering experience, knowledge and understanding through observation and personal contact with other people, with about two dimes in their pockets.  We also learn the term anti-sabbatical - a job one acquires with the intention to stay a short time, just long enough to gather sufficient funds for the next adventure, travel based or otherwise.  I had travellers envy throughout most of this book.  Deep envy.

"Vagabonding is, was, and always will be a private undertaking - and its goal is to improve your life not in relation to your neighbours but in relation to yourself.  Thus, if your neighbours consider your travels foolish, don't waste your time trying to convince them otherwise.  Instead, the only sensitive reply is to quietly enrich your life with the myriad of opportunities that vagabonding provides." -p. 36

Potts takes this book to introduce the reader to ways one can travel on a small budget by relying on oneself, great contacts and useful websites.  You will come out ready to travel and to do it well.  Now, where are you going to go?


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New Places to Get Lost

Here are a few blogs and websites I have recently discovered as enjoyable or awesome.  Totally distracting myself from my actual work.  Yay for holidays!

For all you design lovers and home project do-ers out there:

Design Salon

A funny look at life, work, family and sarcasm:

I Am Prepared to Give Up At Any Time

Need a t-shirt?  I have not ordered any and I am unsure of their quality but a quick gaze through these is an historical walk through modern times:

6 Dollar Shirts

Since I am in grad school, here is a person who is on her way to a tenured track professor position.  Funny and honest:

Fumbling Toward Tenure

Enjoy!

A Surprising Evening

Last year around this time, November 2011, I went to a conference and W. Brett Wilson was the keynote speaker.  He told the story of his life, including the ruination of his relationships due to the amount of work he was completing while making millions of dollars (follow link to hear this story). While rebuilding his relationships he has told his family that he will answer their calls at anytime, and then his phone rings during his keynote speaker address.  He answers it, tells his dad he is in the middle of a speech in front of 400 people, and that he will call back in ten minutes, then hangs up.  I tell this story a lot as, in our society, we are still learning how to interact with people, electronics and social media in socially appropriate ways.  Here is an example contrary to much of what I have established as socially acceptable, and yet Brett's decision to put his family first makes sense.

This evening I was asked to attend a fundraising concert at which my nephew was performing with his touring choir.  I love seeing my nieces and nephews perform and gladly agreed.  My father, sister, brother-in-law and I went to the dinner and concert and the performers were the most eclectic mix I have ever encountered.  As it turned out, this was a philanthropic evening organized by Brett Wilson and his staff in order to raise money for the Calgary Veterans Food Bank.  Here was this former Dragon's Den millionaire who had made his money in gas and oil doing more work in the community.  As I looked around I saw a former mayor of Calgary, a few CBC reporters, a Calgary Stampeder (this person was pointed out to me), and several other faces I knew from around Calgary but could not name.  This evening while listening to seven different artistic acts we raised $95,000 dollars, $20 of which was mine.  I did not expect such professional and well connected musicians or audience members, instead I was anticipating a junior high school type performance.  What a night!  This is why I write a little, read and little and get up and live a lot.  The living part is just so enjoyable and filled with surprises.

The performers are below with comments about my favourite parts of the evening.  What a joyous night to be a part of and I did enjoy rubbing elbows everyone in attendance, and I will return next year.

Boys Choir
They performed several pieces written by Benjamin Britten a challenging composer who wrote in the UK around and after World War Two.  They were delightful and Brett Wilson actually won a performance by the choir at another charity auction and used the performance he won to earn more money for even more charities.  This is a smart man.

Brett Kissel
Official website
He is a talented and young country singer who wrote a song in protest of the NHL lockout on behalf of fans, 'Hockey, Please Come Back'.  Rumour has it, it is somewhat viral at this point.  An interesting micx of songs with several poignant ones written for his grandparents.

Shane Koyczan
I had no idea who this man was but I have been exposed to modern forms of poetry, including poetry slams and the spoken word.  He performed at the Vancouver Olympic opening ceremonies with 'We Are More' a tribute to Canada, and is working hard to spread the word about clinical depression and dealing with bullying.  His love poems were equal parts hilarious, thoughtful and enchanting.

One of his funny and brief poems:



The Stellas
Official Website
A group whose name I was familiar with but whom I had never heard.  We were fortunate enough to hear both Brad and Marylynne and their two children, Lennon and Maisy, who recently made a video that went viral and earned them a spot on Good Morning America.  As two duos they are incredibly musical, gentle performers and talented people.  As a quartet, they sang a few lovely Christmas songs and brought others up on stage to share the spirit of the season.

Here is one of there most beautiful videos which Marylynne wrote after finding a book of love poems written back and forth from soldiers to loved ones back home during World War Two.  A moving piece of work:




Also performing were Christian Laurian and his sister Malia Ashely Kerr.  Lastly, we received an operatic performance by Sara Staples along with her accompanist, Nathaniel Schmidt.
Such a delightful night that surpassed my expectations.

Get out and live a lot!

Keep Shining

While I plaster my blog with videos....here is one a cousin shared with me.  She was able to see Shad in London.  You and I get to enjoy his video and powerful music through YouTube.  Thank you to all the women who have taught me so much.  Keep shining.

Beyond Somebody That I Used to Know

So most of us who listen to the radio or fully aware that the song of the spring and summer of 2012 was Gotye's, Somebody I Used to Know.  With many group covering the tune, the summer tanners who had it blasting out of their SUV's, and the amount of times it came on the radio, this song ruled the summer.  I too was sucked in and purchased the CD only to find out that there are several songs that I enjoy even more.  Here are the two I find just as compelling as the aforementioned song.

Save Me

Official Video on Vimeo

An artful and creative animation that is scare-crow-man-esque.

Eyes Wide Open

The end of the world with Star Wars-like characters trying to find the fertile soil of yesteryear. 

Sing You Home

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To be honest, I have never picked up a Jodi Picoult book as I always thought she wrote romance novels which are not my literary thing.  In the past few months I have joined a new book club and this was the first book I actually had time to read before I attend the club meeting, and at first I was not excited.  Romance?  Really?  I decided to give Picoult a chance, picked it up on a Saturday and had it read by Tuesday night, staying up late one night due to sleeplessness and wondering what would happen to this book's characters during the turmoil of their lives.

(Warning: contains a few spoilers.)

The book begins with Zoe and Max, a married couple, both working full-time jobs and trying desperately to become pregnant and carry a baby to term.  A fifth failure late in her pregnancy causes Max to leave the marriage as he feels second to Zoe's need to have children, a position he no longer wants to hold.  While recovering from the break-up of their marriage and the end of another pregnancy, Zoe and Max take two very separate roads.  Zoe finds and deepens a friendship with Vanessa with whom she begins dating and eventually marries, and Max joins his brother and sister-in-law's ultra-conservative Christian religion.  Zoe and Vanessa decide to have a child, with Vanessa carrying the three zygotes that Zoe and Max made while they were married.  Max is unsure what to do and confides in his religious leader who convinces Max to take Zoe to court to obtain the zygotes himself.  A vicious battle over the zygotes ensues as we see the rights of two lesbian women legally married (in a different state from which they live), pitted against the forces of  ultra-conservative Christian right-wingers whose belief structure slowly unravels in Max's head.

This is where I shall leave my review and encourage you to read this book.  The tapestry of characters who share the narrative of the book (it moves between Zoe, Max and Vanessa) present lives that have intersected, separated and intersected once more.  Much more than the romance (the ones that Picoult does not write), she takes the reader through a host of ideas and beliefs that people hold about challenging ideas, revealing the differing views of each person and their perspectives about life, love, self-understanding, legal rights and acceptance.  A beautifully woven novel, but not always easy to read.


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Bois-des-Esprits or Spirit Trees

While I was walking last spring on the south side of Winnipeg, I came upon a beautiful neighbourhood in St. Vital with its own forest, the Seine River Greenway Forest.  It was a delightful day with leaves all over the path, children actually playing in the forest, small groups of people enjoying a walk.  I happened upon another woman walking by herself and we began a conversation.  She asked me if I had seen the spirit trees of the forest as of yet, to which I replied no.  She walk me deeper into the woods and there it was, the Bois-des-Esprits.    

Stunning multiple faces and animals.
Carved on both sides.

The same tree.
The other side.

This woman and I talked for a while as she gave me more advice of a few different places to visit in the city.  We parted ways and I continued walking out of the forest I spied several more faces that I had completely walked by, not realizing they had been staring at me and others along the path.  The faces were stunning, carved right into the trees, rough slices, with long whisky beards.      

Old tree
Old face

This was the last tree as I left the forest.  I took one picture, stared at the tree for a while, then realized that this was not simply a face.

Old tree
Old face
With a bit of extra

A view from below so I could capture the face's friend.

Sadly, someone committed an act of vandalism this past June and lit the largest of the trees on fire.  One wonders what pushes someone to light something so stunning on fire.  Sign of discontent.  This tree provided me with much content.  I hope people continue to enjoy it despite a part of it now being charred.  I shall continue to walk, talk with random strangers, and enjoy the outdoors.  I am thinking the Winnipeg Trails Association will help.  Love walking!
  

Winnipeg Weather 2

Due to the copious amounts of snow that fell during the winter of 2011, the Spring was upon us here in the water drenched province of Manitoba.  With 56 rivers, over 1,000 lakes we were join to lose.  Lose what?  I did not know as this was my first Spring in Winnipeg, but that amount of snow and the continuous rain?  We were going to lose.

Canadians were smart back in the day, and most of our cities are built on waterways as this was the best way to transport goods, people, and the necessities of life as Canada was being stolen from the First Nations people (might as well be blunt).  This also precipitates flooding in many cities as the water is right there meandering through the centre of the city.  Too much water in any form will eventually turn to the liquid variety, collect at the lowest points in town, and forge onwards.  Flooding is a big problem in several cities, but in a province where water flows in from the West, South and North, it can be even more damaging.

This is why in the Red River Floodway was built around Winnipeg in 1969.  Essentially, it is a big ditch into which water from the Red River can be diverted that would normally flow through the city, but can be taken around the city if the Red River is too high.  It truly is a large ditch.  Ingenious really.  Until the flood waters of 2011 collected and could not find a place to go.    

In May 2011 it all hit with evacuations, planned dike breaches, farm and reserve land flooded, roads cut off, people losing their home, it was chaos for many all along the Hoop and Holler Bend.  I was unfamiliar with all this information until the news, media, World Wide Web and people talked about it for months.  Interestingly enough, because of the floodway, Winnipeg was not flooded.  It could have been disastrous for the city but in diverting all the water to the floodway, most of the city did not even notice there was a flood.

The park path over-run with water

Water very close to the underbelly of this pathway bridge

Will the truck survive the day?

Don't live on the first or second floor

Just outside the city however, the floodway was dangerously high and the government stepped in and planed a dike breach.  This decision flooded farm and reserve land halting the growing season for many farmers, leaving many First Nations people without homes and a community, and cottage dwellers were left with little information about available support to help their properties remain in tact.  7,000 sandbags, $8 million dollars in temporary housing, multiple rivers high enough to evacuate homes.  All outside the city.

Trees in the river

Another road was needed to get to this destination

I was safe.  My apartment was higher up in my building.  My car was parked far from the river.  A series of philosophical questions filled my mind.  What is more important, a city of cement and wood or farmland on which we grow our food?  Whose lives are more important and should be left undisturbed, rural people, First nations people, or urban people?  Who decides what is important, government, city officials, general populace?  How do I take a flood seriously when my home and car are not in immediate danger?  I am new here and don't necessarily feel that this is my community, so how do I contribute feeling like an outsider?  Still thinking about some of these questions.

Dead Grandmother's

All my three grandmothers are now dead.

It is harsh but true.

Never met my maternal grandmother.

Lucky enough to have two paternal grandmothers.

Both paternal g's, very different from each other.

Opposite sides of the spectrum.

I am more like the one who birthed and raised my father, Grandma Billy.

None of them are around to provide me with advice anymore.

Don't worry.

In today's day and age, all you need is a good website or blog to replace a loved one.

(I can't believe I am posting that sentence.  Lightning may hit me as I strike the publish key.)

In particular you may enjoy this blog.

A rollicking good time reminding us of the progress society has made over the past few decades.

Advice as my grandmothers, I am sure, would give me if still here to provide it.

HERSTERIA

And enjoy!

Thank the creator after you have picked yourself off the ground 

when the giggles have moved onto laughter, 

the laughter onto guffaws, 

thence on to crying with sobs of hysteria.

Have a box of kleenex at the ready.

RIP Jack Layton

Just wanted to commemorate the listening of Jack Layton's funeral on CBC Radio.
I know that we idealize people during funerals but with teach talk, speech, piece of information about Jack, he is more amazing.

For a person to pioneer causes such as decreasing violence against women; improving the situation of the poor; to listen to the issues facing immigrant individuals and families; fighting for the rights of the gay and lesbian community; speaking on behalf of the middle and lower income groups in this country; teaching each of us that our contribution does make a difference.  To fight for these causes as a white, heterosexual, middle to upper class man and to not be afraid of sharing power, decision making processes, money, and access to the good of the world is what is most impressive about Jack Layton.  Our cities, our country and the world would improve if we lived more like Jack, not leaving anyone behind.

The more I live, the more I realize that I am not a democratic capitalist.  Far from it.  (I say this as the US is slowly imploding from over consumption and over accumulation of the ruling class and others).  Money is helpful and useful in a world that circumnavigates production, consumption, consumerism, and there are many things in my life that require money (place to sleep, food, clothing, writing, reading, education, ceramics, photography, entertaining friends) but I want money so that I can live.  I don't live for the accumulation of money.  I am not a capitalist.  Jack and his life's work makes me more motivated to be even less of capitalist and more of a democratic socialist, the policies, procedures and laws that leave no one behind.  A world of private enterprise and things is a world in which there are fewer people willing to share, and in which accumulation and having more at any cost is the priority.  Others are always more important than things and accumulation of things.

Thank you democratic socialist and activist Jack, for this reminder.

From Google Pictures

The Twit Did Not Last Long

My experience on Twitter was brief.  My account was hacked and to be honest, I need to be doing other things with my time at this point in life.  I must also do some research to protect my account in case I join again to avoid the hackage.  Even so, I may take a peak once in a while.  Cheers to Twitter users and have fun with the 140 characters!

The Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet is killing our culture by Andrew Keen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While a good read the premise of the book concerned me. Essentially the author is concerned that the growing voice of alternative and amateur voices, as opposed to well-trained professional voices, are increasing in volume and opinion on the Internet, sending Western culture into a downward spiral of less knowledge and fact based reasoning. While there is merit in this argument, one of the most interesting parts of the Internet is the multiplicity of varying voices on it and the idea that it was first a place where marginalized, dissenting and alternative voices found a space to be heard. These voices need to be heard as professional voices have often had easier access and better access to education, employment and spaces that train then deem them professional voices, while others have not. Which of these voices is therefore more important? Those who have had priveledge, thise who face added struggles with access, or bot? This author would rather see the amateur voice less audible on the Internet. I disagree. Is needs to remain an open access space for all people to contribute even the nutters out there.

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The Holy Grail

Doing research for my thesis.
Found this in the footnotes of an article on blogging.
The Holy Grail of Blogging
One of the original blogs.
Where is began.
Simple.
Crude.
Partly unintelligible to the non-programming eye.
Cooooooool.

Robot Wisdom
by Jorn Barger
(www.robotwisdom.com, if link does not work)

Today's lesson?
Read the footnotes.
Always read the footnotes.
Then follow the links.

rebecca's pocket
by Rebecca Blood
(www.rebeccablood.net, if link does not work)

Another original.
Blogging since 1999.
Wasn't there a song, blogging like it's 1999.....

Vinyl Recreations at Winnipeg Fringe

My friend Wanda, the owner of Estudio Luna (Facebook link), whom I met through another friend Darren, the CEO of Solalta Advisors, introduced me inadvertently to Ashleigh and Scott, owners of Vinyl Recreations, as I arrived at Wanda's studio one night to go out to The Academy's UK Pop Night.  Funny enough it was a mistaken meeting as I showed up at Winnipeg Fringe on the wrong day, but at the right time and volunteered for the wrong shift that lead me to these new people as friends.  If I had arrived a day later for the correct shift, I would have missed their incredible work at Estudio Luna and would have missed meeting Ashleigh, Scott and Ryan.  This mistaken meeting made Fringe Fest ever so much more fun than it would have been without them.  Chance meetings, leading to good friends, leading to several evenings of brilliant times!

Vinyl Recreations

Ashleigh and Scott have collected 20,000 and researched methods to turn these now antiquated objects into interesting, fun, and useful products.  In their first roll-out of reused records they have created necklaces, earrings, clocks, rain sticks and bowls.  In their second roll-out Scott discussed an attempt at making lamps, earring holders, and more complex necklace patterns amongst other creations.  Holding on to the records that are still playable, they only manipulate and reshape records which no longer make music due to scratches, scrapes, etc.  I made a few purchases for gifts and bought myself a pair of earrings made from old 45 inserts.  If you are male and you wear jewellery, this will look good on you too as it has an interesting mix of retro cool factor and solid heteronormative maleness wrapped up in a simple black design.  In all, an amazing show within a fantastic festival.  Take a peak and Vinyl Recreations website and remember: be open to plans changing, fresh opportunities and new people.

Ridiculous? or Hilarious?

I can't decide if this is the most hilarious blog I have seen in a while, the most weird, the most creative, the most bizarre, or a person with a great deal of time on their hands.  Then again, this looks like an extension of authored books, that is worth anyone's time.  Give it a peak:

My Milk Toof

Fixed It?

I have been in Ottawa enjoying the debates involved in student governance, seeing old friends, and visiting sights I dearly love.  A post about that to come later.  For now, a new website for me:


see more There I Fixed It

For more hilarity, check out:

There, I Fixed It

(A part of the Fail Blogs)

Project Democracy

Interested in participating in a coalition of Canadian citizens who have created Project Democracy and don't want to see Harper back in power in Ottawa?  Here is a link below so you can read more and use a widget that will help you find the leading or elected incumbent in your area so the vote does not split, thus reinstating those currently in power who are not listening or playing well with others.

Project Democracy for May 2

Bodega

A classmate of mine encouraged me to download Bodega the other day.  She said that her partner had developed this website for phone Apps, a unique idea at the time, then disappointment struck as Apple created their own App store.  Download it.  Check it out if you get the chance.  Share the money, power, capital, production and consumption of goods in North America.  Give as much as you can to the littler people like you and me.

Bodega

Arts on the Edge

I am not in favour of anyone group having exclusive access to the art that we can access, but I am in support of making visual art more accessible for all people across the planet.  Browse through images, see them electronically up close, view rooms in museums around the world.  Then save your pennies and visit them with your own eyes and your own brain.

Here is one such website:  Google Art Project

Then I came across this very interesting design and art company that makes me want to hire the to redecorate and brand my whole world.  Love the creative people in the world:
derooted creative agency

As well I found a most helpful website and blog by a man who designs, photographs, and develops.  Very sexy website and wonderful hands on info for the post-production work in various photography programs: Kremalicious

They all look delicious!